A Nightmare On My Street

It had been about a year since we had moved to our new location on James Island. The cul-de-sac where we resided had begun development shortly before we moved there. Even so, the area was chock full of kids.  It took no time for Brandon to develop friendships and a following. These young people were very smart, somewhat athletic, others were academically inclined, and all of them were admired by their parents for their combined talents.  

The “Gilmore Gang” (I’m the only one that ever called them that) played, laughed, ran around, and enjoyed each other. It was not unusual for some or all of these young people to be in, at, or around our house any time of the day or evening. It was a parents’ joy to watch their kids be a real part of the neighborhood.  

It seemed obvious to me and his mother that more often than not, Brandon was in charge of the activities that “The Gillmore Gang” happened to be involved in. One of the pivotal moments as relates to his leadership ability came during October. 

My work schedule didn’t allow me to be home during the late afternoon and evening, so it was more apparent to Brandon’s mother that he had something going on due to his absence from the house and the area out front where she could see him most often. This went on for a few days until one evening Brandon came in to announce that they had it all done, they had it finished, it was “ready!” 

His mother and I looked at each other like, “OK, what might that be?” 

Brandon answered, “Our Halloween Haunted House!” 

So, of course, the set of questions came to mind: “Where was this haunted house? What did they use to build this? Who assisted with this haunted house? And (the parent’s last question), who paid for it?” 

The answer to all of these questions became moot when we were led by our young genius behind the house out onto a trail into the woods that brought us to the moment of presentation. Brandon had stopped us to wait until everything was prepared while all of his actors got in place. At just the right moment, Brandon took his role as tour guide and let us into their haunted house. 

We were led, with eyes closed, to the first location where we stopped in front of the remains of an old abandoned car. No sooner had we the chance to realize what we were looking at that the hood flew open to reveal a ghoulishly costumed actor growling at us and relishing our obvious horror.  

All of us were laughing and beginning to realize that we were getting much more than we anticipated. We continued through the woods with the underbrush seeming to pull at us the sides of the path until we almost stumbled into/onto the next tableau where we were abruptly presented with the resident ‘Vampire’ resting in his coffin hidden in the carefully dug grave right in the middle of the narrow walkway. 

The early evening darkness was perfect for the well-lit and well-orchestrated scenes that Brandon and his friends had meticulously constructed. After our tour was finished, we were grilled to find out exactly what we thought; what needed to be changed; did we like it; did we think the kids in the neighborhood would respond well; etc., etc. I wasn’t there to hear the other parents voice their opinions, but since the ‘gang’ immediately began to call all their friends who lived close by, and many who didn’t, to come and visit their masterpiece, it became obvious that everyone was taken with this event. Our only question was that of how much to charge for the admission. A quarter was their decision and garnered them what they deemed to be a profit after several days of tours through the ‘haunted pathway’. 

Brandon still has the hand drawn/written diagram for the event and, like many his age, he has put that memory on the shelf in his very creative mind. That doesn’t stop the rest of us who toured their wonderful event from reliving our joy and our pride. All that resulted from the realization that our children had progressed in their development to the stage of being in charge of the outcome of their thinking rather than waiting for their parents telling them how to evaluate events. In short – they had grown up and we got to see that moment 

It’s hard for me to write all this and not reek of the tendency to brag on my child for his part in this, and the many times since, but that is what we long for and revel in – the successful growth and happiness of our children. 

I can’t help myself. 

I hope the rest of you parents have those moments in your memories that brighten your days and lighten the heaviness of the world.